Best iPhone Deals Right Now: iPhone 18 Pro Offers, Trade-Ins and Discounts (September 2026)

Apple's fall launch has reshuffled the iPhone lineup, and with it the deals. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale on September 18, the foldable iPhone Duo is due in October, and carriers are once again competing with trade-in offers worth up to $1,200.

There is a twist this year: Apple did not cut prices on older models. It raised them. That makes shopping around more important than usual. Below we break down what launched, the best offers we found at the time of writing, and the fine print that decides whether a "free" iPhone is actually a good deal. Deal prices change quickly, so always confirm the final price at checkout.

What Apple launched, and what it costs

At its September 9 event, Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It did not announce a standard iPhone 18, so the non-Pro options are still last year's models.

The Pro models add a variable-aperture main camera, the A20 Pro chip, a smaller Dynamic Island and, for the first time, a 2TB storage tier. Apple also discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and raised the price of every older model it still sells by $100.

Apple's iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 prices include a $30 discount that requires activation with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. Choosing to connect later adds $30.

Our headline pick: iPhone 18 Pro for $0 after credits at AT&T

AT&T lists the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro at $1,199.99, and with an eligible trade-in and plan it offers up to $1,200 in bill credits over 36 months. That can bring the monthly device payment to $0. It is open to new and existing customers, and AT&T accepts an iPhone 14 or newer (excluding the iPhone 16e) in any condition, or another eligible phone with a trade-in value of at least $180.

The catch is the plan. The maximum credit requires AT&T's Premium 2.0 unlimited plan or higher, and you must buy the phone on a 36-month installment agreement. Tax on the full retail price is due at purchase. If you already want a premium unlimited plan and plan to keep your phone for three years, this is the best value on a brand-new iPhone right now.

The best iPhone deals right now

Here is how the major offers compare at the time of writing. Every carrier deal below pays out as monthly bill credits, not an instant discount.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max carrier offers

All three major carriers advertise up to $1,200 off with a trade-in. On the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro, that covers the full price. On the 256GB Pro Max, it leaves roughly $100 to pay across the installment period.

T-Mobile's top credit requires one of its highest-tier plans. On Experience More 2.0, Experience More or Go5G Plus, the maximum drops to $930. Verizon gives the full $1,200 only when you add a new line. Existing customers upgrading a line can get up to $1,020, and the trade-in must have been active on the account for at least 60 days.

Verizon is also pitching a no-trade-in option for switchers that lets you return your iPhone for a new model every year. That can suit people who always want the latest phone, but read the return-condition terms carefully.

Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon

Best Buy sells the iPhone 18 Pro from $1,199.99, and its deals are carrier-linked: up to $1,200 off with a trade-in when you activate on AT&T or Verizon. Walmart and Costco also offer carrier versions. Costco's T-Mobile deal adds a Costco shop card and a prepaid Visa card for switchers.

Retailers rarely discount a brand-new iPhone outright in its launch month. Expect the carrier-activated price to be the real deal, and watch for gift-card bonuses around holiday sales.

iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB and goes up to $3,199 for 2TB. Preorders begin October 16 and it releases October 23. MacRumors reports AT&T says its trade-in offer will extend to iPhone Duo orders, but full carrier terms were not published at the time of writing.

If you want one, set up your trade-in and financing before preorders open. Early carrier promos on a new form factor are often the strongest they will be for months.

Previous-generation discounts

Because Apple raised its own prices, prepaid carriers are where the older models get genuinely cheap. Metro by T-Mobile has the 256GB iPhone Air for $699.99 when you bring your number, Total Wireless has it for $749.99, and Boost Mobile has it for $799.99 with its Unlimited Premium plan. None of these require a trade-in.

The iPhone 17e sees the steepest cuts: $299.99 at Cricket with a port-in, $349.99 at Metro, and $0 per month at AT&T with a new line and 36 months of credits. Note that some carrier listings still quote the pre-increase retail prices of $999.99 for the Air and $599.99 for the 17e, so compare the final price, not the advertised discount.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are gone from Apple's store, but carriers and retailers still have some stock. Best Buy listed the 256GB iPhone 17 Pro at $1,099.99 through Verizon, and price tracker PriceHistory recorded the unlocked 256GB iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,287.55 on Amazon, down from $1,429. Stock of popular colors is thinning.

Apple Trade In versus carrier trade-in

Apple's own trade-in pays instant credit of $175 to $885 for an iPhone 13 or later in the U.S. Values reported by Mac Observer and Cult of Mac put the iPhone 17 Pro Max at up to $885 and the iPhone 17 Pro at up to $785. Apple cut iPhone values on September 9, including the iPhone 16 Pro to $510 and the 16 Pro Max to $610.

Apple's credit is smaller than the carriers' headline numbers, but it comes off the price immediately and does not lock you to a plan. Carrier offers pay more on paper, especially for older or damaged phones, but only through 36 months of bill credits.

Key takeaway: a carrier trade-in is usually the biggest discount on a new iPhone, but only if you already want that carrier's premium unlimited plan and plan to keep the phone for the full 24 to 36 months.

Apple also offers its Apple Upgrade leasing program, starting at $34.99 per month over 24 months for the iPhone 18 Pro, and interest-free financing from $49.95 per month.

The fine print on carrier deals

Carrier offers look like instant discounts but work very differently. Here is what to check before signing.

1. Credits arrive monthly. A "$1,200 off" deal on a 36-month plan pays about $33.33 per month. Credits typically start within one to three bills.
2. Leave early and you lose the rest. If you cancel service, pay off the phone early or upgrade before the term ends, remaining credits usually stop and the balance comes due.
3. Plan requirements are strict. The maximum credit is tied to the most expensive unlimited plans. Dropping to a cheaper plan can reduce or end the credits.
4. Trade-in tiers vary. "Up to" means the top credit goes only to recent, higher-value phones. Older models often get a smaller tier.
5. Taxes and fees still apply. You pay sales tax on the full retail price upfront, plus any activation or upgrade fee, often around $35.
6. The phone stays locked. Financed carrier phones are locked to that network until they are paid off and meet the carrier's unlocking policy.

Add up the plan cost over the full term. A "free" phone on a plan that costs more each month than your current one can end up more expensive than buying the phone outright.

Unlocked versus carrier iPhones

Buying unlocked from Apple costs more upfront but keeps you free to switch carriers, travel with a local eSIM, or move to a cheaper prepaid plan. Prepaid services like Visible, Mint Mobile and Total Wireless can cost far less per month than a premium postpaid plan.

Carrier deals win if you are staying put anyway. If you move carriers every year or two, the flexibility of an unlocked phone is usually worth more than the bill credits.

Refurbished and renewed options

Apple's Certified Refurbished store is the safest way to save, with a one-year warranty, a new battery and outer shell where needed, and savings of up to 15 percent. At the time of writing its newest iPhones were from the iPhone 16 family, such as a 128GB iPhone 16 for $619 and a 512GB iPhone 16 Pro for $1,019. Apple has not listed refurbished iPhone 17 models yet.

For newer phones, Amazon Renewed lists the unlocked 256GB iPhone 17 Pro from about $998 and 512GB models from about $1,089. RefurbMe tracked third-party refurbished 256GB iPhone 17 Pro units from around $849 in July. Buy from sellers with at least a 90-day return window and a stated minimum battery health.

FAQ

Is there a standard iPhone 18 this year?

Not yet. Apple announced only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo in September 2026. The iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17e remain the non-Pro options.

Why did older iPhones get more expensive?

Apple raised prices on the iPhone 17e, iPhone 16, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air by $100 after the event, with no hardware changes. Reports point to rising component costs, including a global memory shortage.

Should I trade in with Apple or my carrier?

Get quotes from both. Apple's credit is instant and plan-free, while carriers often pay more for older or damaged phones but spread it over 36 months of credits tied to a premium plan.

When is the best time to buy an iPhone 18 Pro?

Launch-month carrier trade-ins are among the strongest offers of the year. Outright retail discounts on unlocked models are rare this early, so if you want unlocked, waiting for holiday sales may pay off.

The bottom line

If you want a new iPhone 18 Pro and already pay for a premium unlimited plan, the carrier trade-in offers, led by AT&T's $0-after-credits deal, are the best value. If you want to save money without a long commitment, prepaid deals on the iPhone Air and iPhone 17e, or a refurbished iPhone 16 or 17 Pro, will stretch your budget further. Either way, read the fine print and check the total cost over the full term.